Fully funded PhD Medicine & Health Belgium 8 days left

LUCAS is recruiting a PhD candidate for research on the impact of cancer support centres

KU Leuven, Belgium

Institution: KU Leuven
Country: Belgium
Position type: PhD
Subject area: Medicine & Health
Application deadline: 31 August 2026
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Funding: Fully funded position

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About this position

LUCAS is KU Leuven’s interdisciplinary centre of expertise in the field of care and welfare. For more than 30 years, LUCAS has been connecting knowledge from research, practice, and policy, working in continuous dialogue with all relevant stakeholders.
Our mission is to improve people’s quality of life by initiating and supporting meaningful innovations in healthcare practice and policy.

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Project

LUCAS KU Leuven, in collaboration with the Foundation against Cancer and the King Baudouin Foundation, is conducting a four-year research project on the impact of cancer support centres (“inloophuizen”) for people affected by cancer.
These support centres provide accessible psychosocial support services where people with cancer, as well as their relatives and caregivers, can access peer support, information, and a range of supportive activities that contribute to their quality of life. While visitors highly value the services offered by these centres, stronger scientific evidence is still needed regarding their long-term impact on visitors and their broader societal value.
As part of this project, a PhD trajectory will be launched to investigate the psychosocial and societal impact of cancer support centres through a longitudinal research design. Building on previous research conducted by LUCAS, the study aims to gain a deeper understanding of how attending a support centre contributes to psychosocial well-being, quality of life, coping, social connectedness, reintegration, and healthcare utilisation. In addition, the research will explore which characteristics of support centres and their modes of operation contribute to positive outcomes for visitors.
Within this project, the PhD researcher will work closely with a network of support centres across Belgium. You will be responsible for data collection, the analysis of longitudinal and qualitative data, and the scientific reporting of research findings. You will publish in international peer-reviewed journals, present your work at national and international conferences, and contribute to translating research findings into policy and practice recommendations.
This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the scientific evidence base for accessible psychosocial support for people with cancer and to generate direct societal impact.

Profile

• You hold a Master’s degree in the social sciences, medical-social sciences, or a related discipline.

• You will have obtained your degree no later than the appointment date of 1 January 2027.

• You have an excellent academic record.

• You possess a solid knowledge of quantitative research methods and are willing to further develop your expertise in this area.

• You work with a strong focus on quality, integrity, creativity, and collaboration.

• You have a strong interest in healthcare and social welfare.

• You are trilingual (Dutch, French, and English), given the context of the research.

• Experience in scientific research and academic publishing is considered an asset.

• Affinity with the challenges associated with cancer or, more broadly, chronic illness is an asset.

Offer

• We offer a fully funded PhD scholarship for a maximum period of four years.

• The anticipated start date is 1 January 2027.

• Your monthly scholarship will be determined according to the salary scales for doctoral scholarship holders within KU Leuven’s Special Academic Staff framework.

• You will be based at LUCAS KU Leuven.

Interested?

For more information please contact Mrs. Nele Van den Cruyce, mail: [email protected].

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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Applications close 31 August 2026.